NASA accomplishes smartphones' mission

May 09, 2013|By Hugh Lessig, hlessig@dailypress.com | 757-247-7821

Smartphone cameras are fine for snapping photos of your BFF, but NASA has officially taken that technology to new heights.

The space agency has successfully tested smartphones as low-cost satellites, thanks to the recent launch of the Antares rocket from Wallops Island. Three smartphones named Alexander, Graham and Bell, served as prototype PhoneSats.

The mission's goal was to demonstrate whether a consumer-grade smartphone could be used as the onboard computer of a functional yet inexpensive satellite.

The hard-working PhoneSats – which were encased in a cube-like structure -- also took photos of Earth. They transmitted so-called "image-data packets" to multiple points on the planet. In many cases, ham-radio buffs from around the world received the data and sent it back to NASA.

For about a week, the amateur radio operators and NASA's Ames Research Center in California collaborated to reconstruct a high-resolution image of Earth based on the data captured by the three smartphones. On the second day of the mission, Ames had received more than 200 packets from ham operators around the world. Each packet carried a small portion of the bigger picture.

"During the short time the spacecraft were in orbit, we were able to demonstrate the smartphones' ability to act as satellites in the space environment," said Bruce Yost, the program manager for NASA's Small Satellite Technology Program.

To bolster the phones, engineers also upgraded them with a larger external lithium-ion battery and a more powerful radio to help send messages and visuals from space. Components for each cost about $3,500.

Yost said amateur radio operations from every continent except Antarctica contributed to the effort.

The mission ended successfully on Saturday, April 27, after predicted atmospheric drag caused the PhoneSats to reenter Earth's atmosphere and burn up.

The PhoneSat project was funded by NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA headquarters and the Engineering Directorate at NASA Ames Research Center.